Spool cop holding mechanism

ABSTRACT

A spool cop holding mechanism having a spindle mounted on a strand fabricating machine. The spindle is a elongated tube having opposed longitudinal medial slots therethrough. An elongated S-shaped cop engaging element having a resilient medial portion, at least part of which is within the spindle tube, with longitudinally extending edges normally biased radially away from the tube and outwardly of the slots, by the medial portion, engages and holds a cop during movement of said spindle.

United States Patent 1 1 De Young SPOOL COP HOLDING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Simon Arden De Young, Tallmadge,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Karg Machine Products, Inc.,

Tallmadge, Ohio [22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1972 [21} Appl. N0.: 222,807

[52] 11.8. CI. 242/46.6 [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/54, B65h 75/30 [58] Field of Search 242/466, 46.2, 46.21, 242/463, 46.4, 46.5, 129.7, 129.71, 130; 57/129, 130

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 146,756 l/l874 Draper 242/462 284,429 9/1883 Jaquith 242/462 505,507 9/1893 Buttrick 242/462 [451 Sept. 4, 1973 769,675 9/1904 Allen 242/465 1,261,356 4/1918 Brown.... 1,341,479 5/1920 Proulx..... 3,093,332 6/l963 Jackson 242/466 3,302,384 2/1967 Smith et al 242/465 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath AttorneyMack D. Cook, 11

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A spool cop holding mechanism having a spindle mounted on a strand fabricating machine. The spindle is a elongated tube having opposed longitudinal medial slots therethrough. An elongated S-shaped cop engaging element having a resilient medial portion, at least part of which is within the spindle tube, with longitudinally extending edges normally biased radially away from the tube and outwardly of the slots, by the medial portion, engages and holds a cop during movement of said spindle.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHEEI 1 0F 2 FIG! SIEHZUFZ FIG.4

SPOOL COP HOLDING MECHANISM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The subject matter of this invention is related to the subject matter of co-pending application Ser. No. 193,128, filed /27/71.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Strand fabricating machines utilizing the present invention have sets of spool carriers which are moved along circular paths in opposite directions relative to the work center of the machine toward which tensioned strands from the spools are incrementally released. The tensioned strands may be interlaced, woven, braided or spiralled as to each other or around a core member.

Reference may be made to the disclosure of copending application Ser. No. 193,128 for an understanding of the importance, in the operation of strand fabricating machines, of controlling the tension of strand from a spool of strand material. 7

The present invention is intended to provide for the positive and secure holding and engagement of a spool on a spool holder or carrier during operational movements of a strand fabricating machine. By providing this result, the concepts of the invention enable the numerous other components of a strand fabricating machine to achieve optimum performance and efficiency.

U. S. Pat. No. 1,078,393, Nov./l913 discloses a spool cop holder mechanism using a split sleeve as the spindle. The sleeve is formed with one of its longitudinally extending edges bent radially outwardly to form a blade adapted to indent and engage the inner surface of the tube."

U. S. Pat. Nos. 1,457,572, June/1923 and 2,681,189, June/1954, show a spindle carrying four outwardly bent springs to engage the cop tube. The latter patent further discloses a resilient spool abutting member and a latch type retaining means.

In U. S. Pat. No. 1,541,792, June/1925, the spindle carries a sleeve mounting a spring adapted to press against the end of the bobbin." U. 8. Pat. No. 1,828,337, Oct./l93l and No. 2,272,120, Feb/1942 also each disclose forms of resilient springs mounted exteriorly of the spindle to hold the spool cop.

A recent patent from an analogous art, U. S. Pat. No. 3,386,673, June/1968, discloses V-shaped springs for functional engagement with rolls of paper for a printing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for holding and engaging the cop of a spool of strand material on a strand fabricating machine.

It is further an object to provide a spool cop holder mechanism having a simplified construction with fewer parts to provide for the positive and secure holding and engagement of the cop during spool holder movement.

These and other objects of the present invention, and

spool cop holder mechanism according to the invention is characterized in that the spindle is an elongated tube having opposed longitudinal medial slots therethrough. The cop engaging element is an elongated S-shaped member having a resilient medial portion, at least part of which is within the spindle tube, with longitudinally extending edges normally biased radially away from the tube and outwardly of the slots, by the medial portion, so as to engage and hold a cop during movement of said spindle.

The resilient characteristic of the medial portion causes the edges to be normally biased or displaced radially away from the tube and in position so as to engage and hold the cop during movement of the spool holder.

The mechanism of the invention is further characterized in that the end of the spindle tube has retainer means thereon for confining the cop engaging element therein. The retaining means also functions as a pilot or guide for attachment or removal of the spool.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cop engaging element has an S-shaped medial portion which is housed within the bore of the spindle tube and the holding and engagement by the longitudinal edges is mechanical indentation into the cop. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the S-shaped medial portion is partially located outwardly of the spindle tube and the holding and engagement with the cop is by both mechanical indentation and by frictional contact.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, partially broken away, of a spool holder having a base adapted for mounting on a strand fabricating machine and carrying one embodiment of spool cop holder mechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken substantially as indicated on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of a spool cop holder mechanism accord ing to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken substantially as indicated on line 44 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 24 is journaled in antifriction bearings 25 'and 26 mounted in a bore 27 extending through the base 23 coaxially of the components of a spool release mechanism.

The spool release mechanism and actuator means therefor are not disclosed herein but reference may be made to the disclosure of co-pending application Ser.

No. 193,128 for such details as are necessary to more fully understand the present invention. As shown, the spindle post 24 is attached to the axial hub29 of a release mechanism locking disc, as by a set screw or pin 30. The upper end of the spindle post 24 is secured within the lower end of the spindle tube 11, as by the threads 31. The lower end of the spindle tube 11 may be flared, as shown, providing an enlarged diameter pilot or guide for attachment of a spool 20.

The medial portion of the spindle tube 1 1 has two opposed longitudinal slots 32 therethrough. Theslots 32 permit operational function of the cop engaging element 12. The element 12 has opposed longitudinally extending edges 33 connected by a resilient S-shaped medial portion 34 completely housed within the tube 11. The medial portion 34 will bias or displace the edges 33 radially away from the tube 11 so as to indent and contact a spool cop 21 positioned coaxially over or on the tube 11.

As shown, the retainer means 14 is an annular collar 35 secured around the tube 11 so as to close off the slots 32 and confine the cop engaging element 12 within the tube 11 during removal of a spool 20 therefrom. Alternatively, the slots 32 could be machined in the tube 11 so as to terminate inwardly of the upper end thereof so that the upper end of the tube 11 would serve as the retaining means 14, requiring only momentary deformation of the element 12 to a smaller diameter insertable into the tube 11 and positionable so that the edges 33 would project through the slots 32.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a spool cop holder mechanism may have an elongated spindle tube 111, a cop engaging element 112 and a retainer means 114.

The lower end of the spindle tube 111 is suitably attached to the spindle post 24 which is attached to the axial hub 29 of a spool release mechanism, as by a set screw or pin 30.

The medial portion of the spindle tube 111 has two opposed longitudinal slots 132 therethrough. The slots 132 permit operational function of the cop engaging element 112. The element 112 has opposed longitudinally extending edges 133 connected by a resilient S- shaped medial portion 134 with leaf areas 135 located outwardly of the tube 111. The medial portion 134 will bias or displace the edges 133 radially away from tube 111 so as to indent and contact a spool cop 21 positioned coaxially over or on the tube 11. The leaf areas 135 of the element 1 12 will also frictionally contact the cop 21.

The retaining means 114 is secured around the tube 111 so as to close off the slots 132 and confine the cop engaging element 112 within the tube 111 during removal ofa spool 20 therefrom. The retainer means 114 may have an enlarged diameter providing a pilot or guide surface for attachment of a spool 20.

What is claimed is:

1. A spool cop holding mechanism having a spindle mounted on a strand fabricating machine,

characterized in that,

the spindle is an elongated tube having opposed longitudinal medial slots therethrough, there being an elongated S-shaped cop engaging element having a resilient medial portion, at least part of which is within said spindle tube, with longitudinally extending edges normally biased radially away from said tube and outwardly of said slots, by said medial portion, so as to engage and hold a cop during movement of said spindle.

2. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 1,

further characterized in that, the resilient S-shaped medial portion of said element is completely housed within said tube.

3. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 1,

further characterized in that, the resilient S-shaped medial portion of said element has leaf areas located outwardly of said tube. v

4. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 1,

further characterized in that, the end of said spindle tube has retainer means thereon for confining said cop engaging element therein during removal of a spool therefrom.

5. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 4,

further characterized in that, said retainer means has an enlarged diameter providing a pilot surface for attachment of a spool on said spindle tube. 

1. A spool cop holding mechanism having a spindle mounted on a strand fabricating machine, characterized in that, the spindle is an elongated tube having opposed longitudinal medial slots therethrough, there being an elongated S-shaped cop engaging element having a resilient medial portion, at least part of which is within said spindle tube, with longitudinally extending edges normally biased radially away from said tube and outwardly of said slots, by said medial portion, so as to engage and hold a cop during movement of said spindle.
 2. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that, the resilient S-shaped medial portion of said element is completely housed within said tube.
 3. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that, the resilient S-shaped medial portion of said element has leaf areas located outwardly of said tube.
 4. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that, the end of said spindle tube has retainer means thereon for confining said cop engaging element therein during removal of a spool therefrom.
 5. A spool cop holding mechanism according to claim 4 further characterized in that, said retainer means has an enlarged diameter providing a pilot surface for attachment of a spool on said spindle tube. 